put down (an animal)

put down (an animal)

To end the life of an animal (generally through euthanasia) so as to prevent its suffering in old age or illness, or because it poses a threat to humans or other animals. We decided to put down our dog last week. He was in so much pain from cancer that we felt it would be cruel to let him struggle on.Animal control ended up having to put down the bear once it was spotted roaming the neighborhood for the third time in recent months.

put someone down (for something)

to put someone's name on a list of people who volunteer to do something or give an amount of money. Can I put you down for ten dollars?We're having a picnic, and you're invited. Everyone is bringing something. Can I put you down for potato salad?

put down

1. To set something on the surface of something: They put the boxes down on the floor. I put down my pen and looked up. We put a new carpet down.

2. To write down: I grabbed a piece of paper and quickly put down what she had just said. He put his address down on a slip of paper and handed it to me.

3. To assign someone to some task or obligation: We put John down to do the laundry and Mary to do the dishes. You can put me down for a $20 donation, and I'll send you a check next week.

4. To render something ineffective; repress something: We should put down any rumors that we might be leaving town. When the peasants organized a revolution, the dictator called in the army to put it down.

5. To criticize, berate, or insult someone or something: My boss is always putting me down for small mistakes. The teachers put down our knowledge of literature.

6. To kill some animal, especially a domesticated animal that is sick or suffering: We had to put down several cows that had gotten very ill. The vet put our dog down when it became too sick.

7. To put some child to bed: We put the baby down for a nap.

8. To land: The plane put down at O'Hare Airport.

9. To land some aircraft: The pilot put the plane down in a field.

10. To make some down payment: We just put down a deposit on a new house. If I put $100 down today, can I pay the rest next month?

11. put down to To attribute some event to some cause: They put the boating accident down to the captain's inexperience.

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